Fireplace screen



J. H. BABRQS ET AL FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed Feb. 20, 1950 June 24, 1952FEE JOSE/ h anaeas 4056 ,wM/mq 1 N V EN TORS ATIOEA/EVS eta. '5

Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIREPLACE SCREENJoseph H. Babros and Joseph Komada, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,216

, 2 Claims. 7 i

This invention relates to improvements in screens adapted to bepositioned in front of open fireplaces for the purpose of confiningsparks therein.

An object of the inventionis to provide an improved fireplace screenconsisting essentially of a rectangular frame adapted to be supported inupright position before a fireplace and which has metallic curtainsslidably suspended therein that can be simultaneously opened or closedby means of a chain that is trained over a pulley mounted on theunderside of the top of the frame. This chain has its free endsextending through one side of the frame so as to be accessible at theside thereof and on pulling one of the free ends of the chain bothcurtains may be simultaneously shifted to open or closed positiondepending upon which end of the chain is pulled.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a novel,simple and inexpensive means for rotatably supporting the pulley on theunderside of thetop of the frame and over which th chain is trained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivemeans for supporting the reaches of the chain on the underside of thetop adjacent the center of the top so that these reaches that extendfrom the pulley to the side of the frame through which the chain extendswill not hang down from the top in an objectionable manner.

A furtherobject' of the inventionis to provide a simple and easilymanufactured construction for supporting the inner ends of the rods thats'lidably support the curtains on the underside of the top of the frameso that these inner ends of the rods will beadequat'ely supportedinmutually overlapping relation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple mechanism fortraining the chain as it leads through the side of the frame and toprovide a simple and inexpensive construction for connecting the sidesand top of the frame to each other.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifestin the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the fireplace screen embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial view in rear elevation of the upper portion of thefireplacescreen showing the internal construction of the top thereof.This 2 view is taken from. the reverse side of the screen as viewed inFig. 1. r

Fig. 3 isa partialview illustrating details of construction of how thetop and sides of the frame are connected to each other.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4-4- uponFig. 2 in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectiont'aken substantially upon the line 55 uponFig. 2 in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 6-6 uponFig. 2' in the direction indicated.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 1--'|upon Fig: 2 in the direction indicated;

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved fireplacescreen consists of a rectangular metal frame having a bottom I70, sidesII and I2, and a top l3. Legs l4 and [5 are secured to the forward sidesof the sides H and 12 and serve to support the frame in an uprightposition. Suitable feet (not shown) may be secured to the rear side ofthe bottom Ill so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and prevent theframe from being tiltedrear- Wardly.

The sides II and I2 and the top l3 are preferably formed of angle ironor brass which is angular in cross section similar to angle iron. Onefeature of the invention concerns the manner in which the top I3 isconnected to the sides II and I2. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the upperend of the forward face of each of the sides is beveled off as indicatedat It, and adjacent this bevel the metal is bent rearwardly as indicatedat I! as shown in Fig. 7, thus forming a slight inclined shoulderadjacent the top of each of the sides I l and I2. The top I 3 has, itsforward face beveled ofi complementary to such inclined shoulder exceptfor a downwardly extending finger l8 which is receivable in a slot oropening 19 formed in the shoulder [1. The top face of the angle ironthat forms the top I3 is extendedand bent downwardly as indicated at 20so. as to overliethe outer side faces of thesides H and I2. Theseportions 28 have apertures therein indicated at 2| that are alignablewith apertures 22 in the upper ends of the outer faces of the sides I land 12 designed to receive the threaded ends 23 of shouldered supportingrods 24 and 2 5. The shoulders on these supporting rods are indicated at26 and acorn nuts or the equivalent, indicated at 21, are applicable tothe shanks 23 where they extend through the apertures 22 and 2|. It willthus be appreciated that, with the top I3 and the sides I and I2 formedin the manner illustrated, the top can be assembled with the sides H andI2 very readily be merely forcing the finger l8 at each end of the topdown through the aperture I9 until the beveled edge at each end of thetop I3 engages the shoulder formed at H. In this position the apertures22 and'2| will align and on an insertion of the shanks 23 on the rods 24and 25 and the application of the acorn nuts 21, the parts of the frameare effectively locked together. These parts, however, can be readilydisassembled from each other for purposes of storage and shipment.

The joint between the top and the sides is normally concealed on theforward side of the frame by the application of an ornamental emblem 28.This emblem may have a stud integral therewith that extends through thejoint and which is threaded for the application of a nut 29. In lieuthereof a bolt may be employed to bolt the emblem in position to overliethe joint.

The rods 24 and have their inner ends in mutually overlapping relationwithin the top I3 and serve to slidably support or suspend sections orcurtains 3D and 3| from the top. These curtains are slidably suspendedfrom their respective rods by means of rings 32, and a chain 33 which istrained over a rotatable pulley 34 has its reaches secured to one ringof each curtain as indicated at 35 and 33, respectively. The ends of thechain extend through the side I and hang downwardly adjacent the :outerside thereof. Thus, by pulling on one end of the chain the curtains maybe simultaneously caused to slide on their respective rods 24 and 25into open or closed position depending upon which end of the chain 33 ispulled. The connections 35 and 36 are usually made to rings 32 that aresomewhat spaced from the inner edges of their respective curtains andwires 31 extend from such rings through rings at the edges anddownwardly through the mesh of the metallic curtains. Consequently theinner edges of the curtains will be moved in advance of the connections35 and 36 so that on closing the curtains across the frame the inneredges of the curtains will be capable of assuming mutually overlappingpositions and thus effectively serve to confine any sparks from thefireplace.

One feature of the invention relates to the manner in which the pulley34 is rotatably mounted on the underside of the top face of the top I3.This is accomplished by providing a small plate 40 and securing theretosuch as by soldering or brazing a U-shaped bracket 4| the center ofwhich is spaced from the plate a distance equal to the thickness of thepulley 34. A hole 42 is formed in the plate 40 by piercing the metaldownwardly as shown in Fig. 4 and in a similar manner a hole 43 isformed in the bracket 4| by piercing the metal upwardly. The metal thuspierced enters the hole in the center of the pulley 34 and forms anadequate bearing to rotatably support the pulley. The plate and bracket40 and 4|, after having been thus assembled together with the pulley 34,can be secured to the underside of the top I3 such as by soldering orbrazing. This form of construction provides a very simple andinexpensive means for rotatably mounting the pulley 34 on the undersideof the top.

It is desirable to support the reaches of the chain between the pulley34 and the side H so that these reaches will not objectionably hang downbelow the bottom edge of the forward face of the top l3. Provision mustalso be made for supporting the inner ends of the rods 24 and 25. Tothis end channel-shaped stampings are provided, indicated at 44 and 45.These stampings have angular brackets 46 and 41 secured to their sides.The lower ends of these brackets are formed so as to provide a reversecurl, the curls being indicated at 48 and 49. These curls are designedto slidably receive the inner ends of the rods 24 and 25 respectively.The channels 44 and 45 have the brackets 46 and 41 assembled therewithprior to installation on the underside of the top and when the bracketshave been assembled the channels may be secured to the underside of thetop I3 such as by soldering or brazing. The channels 44 and 45 arelocated near but not ex-- actly on the center of the'top I3 so thattheir brackets 46 and41 will properly be positioned to engage andsupport the rods 24 and 25 which,v as above stated, are in mutuallyoverlapping re-- lation to each other. As the channels 44 and 45 can bereadily stamped out, this construc-- tion forms a simple and easilyapplied device for not only supporting the inner ends of the rods butslidably supporting the reaches of the chain between the pulley 34 andthe side so that these reaches will not objectionably hang down belowthe top I3.

Near the side II an additional stamping, indicated at 50, is provided,this stamping provided two channels 5| and 52 for the chain reaches asthey approach the side H. The ends of the channels are bent downwardlyas indicated at 53 so as to lead to two apertures that are formed at thejunction between the top It! and the side The reaches of the chain arethus trained across the smooth downwardly bent ends of the channels 5|and 52 so that when an end of the chain is pulled it may move with verylittle friction through the channels provided by the stamping 50 and thechannels 44 and 45.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that theparts of the improved fire screen can be very easily and economicallymanufactured and assembled. Although the plate 40, the bracket 4|; andpulley 34, the channels 44 and 45 and their brackets 45 and 41, and thestamping 50 are permanently assembled with the top I3, the top can beeasily and quickly disassembled from the sides II and I2 by merelyremoving the acorn nuts 21 and sliding the rods 24 and 25 inwardly untiltheir shanks 23 are withdrawn from the aligned apertures. In so doingthe curtains 30 and 3| can be removed at any time desired for cleaningpurposes and, if desired, the entire frame can be knocked down forstorage or shipping purposes. When the screen is in use the curtains 3|!and 3| can be simultaneously open or closed by merely pulling on one endof the chain and when the curtains are in fully closed position theirinner edges are disposed in overlapping relation to effectively confinesparks.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having sides, and. a connectingtop, one of said sides having apertures therein, channels secured to theunder side of the top adjacent the center thereof in spaced parallelrelationship to each other, rod supports secured to the channels andextending downwardly therebeneath, rods secured to the sides andextending towards each other beneath the top and having their inner endsdisposed in overlapping relationship and supported by their respectiverod supports, parallel channels secured to the under side of the topadjacent one end thereof leading toward the apertures in said one side,a pulley mounted for rotation on the under side of the top adjacent thatend which is remote from the last-mentioned channels, a chain trainedover the pulley and having reaches extending through the channels andthrough the mentioned apertures, and curtains slidably mounted on therods and connected to the reaches respectively so as to be capable ofbeing simultaneously opened or closed thereby.

2. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having sides and a connectingtop, one of said sides having apertures therein, channels secured to theunder side of the top adjacent the center thereof in spaced parallelrelationship to each other, rod supports connected to the top andextending downwardly therefrom to points below the channels, rodssecured to the sides and extending towards each other beneath the topand having their inner ends disposed in overlapping relationship andsupported by their respective rod supports, parallel channels secured tothe under side of the top adjacent one end thereof leading toward theapertures in said one side, a pulley mounted for rotation on the underside of the top adjacent that end which is remote from thelast-mentioned channels, a chain trained over the pulley having reachesextending through the channels and through the mentioned apertures, andcurtains slidably mounted on the rods and connected to the reachesrespectively so as to be simultaneously opened or closed thereby.

JOSEPH H. BABROS. JOSEPH KOMADA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,860,566 Bertram May 31, 19322,001,681 Huff May 14, 1935 2,150,367 Eisele Mar. 14, 1939 2,152,474Gromes Mar. 28, 1939 2,185,305 Marchand Jan. 2, 1940 2,512,480 CalmyJune 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,221 Great BritainJan. 17, 1910

